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215th out of 2,746 books
—
4,930 voters
Betsy-Tacy (Betsy-Tacy #1)
Best Friends Forever
There are lots of children on Hill Street, but no little girls Betsy's age. So when a new family moves into the house across the street, Betsy hopes they will have a little girl she can play with. Sure enough, they do--a little girl named Tacy. And from the moment they meet at Betsy's fifth birthday party, Betsy and Tacy becoms such good friends that ev...more
There are lots of children on Hill Street, but no little girls Betsy's age. So when a new family moves into the house across the street, Betsy hopes they will have a little girl she can play with. Sure enough, they do--a little girl named Tacy. And from the moment they meet at Betsy's fifth birthday party, Betsy and Tacy becoms such good friends that ev...more
Paperback, 144 pages
Published
August 14th 2007
by HarperCollins
(first published 1940)
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Feb 01, 2009
Abigail
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Sydney Taylor Fans
Recommended to Abigail by:
Wendy / Constance / Melody / Lisa / Ginny
Shelves:
childrens-fiction,
maud-hart-lovelace
Review Temporarily Removed.
9 likes · like · see review
view all 32 comments
Sep 10, 2012
Melody
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everybody
Recommended to Melody by:
Probably Mrs. Borski, worlds most awesome librarian
Shelves:
favorites
9/2012 This book gets better every time I read it.
12/2009 I have loved this book so long I can't remember when first I read it. I certainly didn't have two numbers in my age. I've re-read it countless times, and every time I've read it as an adult, I marvel at Lovelace's skill. Told from the perspective of a five-year-old girl, it rings true on every possible level. Read from the perspective of a forty-five-year-old woman, it's poignant and heartbreaking and nostalgic and delightful. This is my...more
12/2009 I have loved this book so long I can't remember when first I read it. I certainly didn't have two numbers in my age. I've re-read it countless times, and every time I've read it as an adult, I marvel at Lovelace's skill. Told from the perspective of a five-year-old girl, it rings true on every possible level. Read from the perspective of a forty-five-year-old woman, it's poignant and heartbreaking and nostalgic and delightful. This is my...more
5 likes · like · see review
Betsy and Tacy are five year old girls – best friends and neighbors who live in a small Minnesota town around the turn of the century. At times their world is so alien to me and my daughter that they might as well be living on the moon. And I’m talking about more than just the way they are allowed wander the neighborhood with out fear of child predators. Betsy has to wear bulky winter tights because the impropriety of girls wearing pants outweighed the ridiculous impracticality of girls wearing...more
9 likes · like · see review
The Betsy-Tacy series may be the most influential set of books I ever read. I reread them over and over, because they never lose their beauty. Betsy-Tacy is the first book in the delightful series by Maud Hart Lovelace. Five-year-old Betsy longs for a best friend and finds one when Tacy moves in across the street. Together they have many adventures, including going on picnics, selling sand, playing with paper dolls, going "calling" on neighbors, climbing The Big Hill, and going to school for the...more
Sep 26, 2007
Lisa Vegan
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
all kids with the caveat of knowing that this is an old book & women who have not yet read it
Recommended to Lisa by:
Ginny Messina
Thank you to Goodreads friends Ginny & Constance: I saw Betsy-Tacy among your favorites listed on your profile pages and borrowed this book from the library – even by chance got the original 1940 edition which was pretty cool.
How did I miss this series of Betsy-Tacy books when I was a child?! I would have really enjoyed them. The titles Heaven to Betsy and Betsy in Spite of Herself do sound familiar so maybe I did read those; I don’t remember.
This Betsy-Tacy book is so well-written, and the...more
How did I miss this series of Betsy-Tacy books when I was a child?! I would have really enjoyed them. The titles Heaven to Betsy and Betsy in Spite of Herself do sound familiar so maybe I did read those; I don’t remember.
This Betsy-Tacy book is so well-written, and the...more
6 likes · like · see review
I've been an avid reader for as long as I can remember, and have many favorites from childhood, but none have ever meant as much to me as the happy and cozy Betsy-Tacy books.
My beloved aunt dug a dusty old copy of Betsy-Tacy out of her attic for me when I was 4 or 5 years old. From the very beginning, I wanted to climb inside this book and live there forever. Written in the 1940s, it is an autobiographical account of Maud Hart Lovelace's turn-of-the-century childhood in Mankato, MN--which become...more
My beloved aunt dug a dusty old copy of Betsy-Tacy out of her attic for me when I was 4 or 5 years old. From the very beginning, I wanted to climb inside this book and live there forever. Written in the 1940s, it is an autobiographical account of Maud Hart Lovelace's turn-of-the-century childhood in Mankato, MN--which become...more
Oct 19, 2011
Audrey
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Audrey by:
a friend of my mom's when I was very young. Forever grateful!
A delightful book that celebrates the innocence and imagination of childhood. This book is written for a very young audience and makes a perfect read-aloud. When I was little, all I wanted was a friend like Tacy. :) I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: growing up is okay, but nothing compares to the magic of childhood—when simple things can become most adventurous and exciting. This book is the first in a series of ten books about Betsy (plus two books about other characters in which she i...more
Mar 22, 2008
Libby
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Libby by:
Ruth Stein, my Bobe
Shelves:
my-childhood-classics
Looking back, I think Betsy-Tacy had a profound effect on my child self's notion of what might be truly important in this world, namely friendship. The events in the Betsy-Tacy books are pretty mundane, unlike those other Minnesota-centric novels I loved as a child (hello, Little House!) but these novels taught me that friendship itself is a gripping story, an adventure, a tool for transforming the quotidian, prosaic everyday world into a secret, magical place.
Maud Hart Lovelace based her novel...more
Maud Hart Lovelace based her novel...more
2 likes · like · see review
Apr 18, 2008
Annette
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
little girls
Shelves:
juvenile-fiction
Ahh! the innocence of youth! This is a really cute book about two little girls who become best friends. It takes place at the turn of the century which makes it especially charming. It's written in a very simple way which makes it perfect for younger children to enjoy. I read it to my two little girls ages 6 and 4 and they loved it so much that we have decided to read the next one, too, "Betsy-Tacy and Tib".
My all-time favorite series as a child. I read every book in the Betsy Tacy (and Tib!) series multiple times and fervently wished I lived on Hill St. with them at the turn of the 20th century. I am so obsessed with this series that I want to visit Mankato, MN and see all things Maud Hart Lovelace related. Maybe I can force my daughter to get interested in this series when she is old enough?? Then, I'll have an excuse to read them all over again.
Sacrilege that it is for me to say this, as a child...more
Sacrilege that it is for me to say this, as a child...more
6 likes · like · see review
Sep 16, 2008
Arthur
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
the young at heart
Recommended to Arthur by:
Nora and Delia Ephron
I am totally the wrong demographic for the Betsy-Tacy books, which are written for young girls. I read book 1 out of curiosity, as the series is mentioned by Meg Ryan's character in the film You've Got Mail. I found this look at young life a hundred years ago so engrossing that I couldn't stop until I'd read all ten of the main series, plus Winona's Pony Cart, set in the same fictional town. The biggest asset in the series is Lovelace's great characterizations of children (who become young adult...more
A perfect book. I just re-read the entire series in honor of my Mom. I love the way they grow in complexity with the kids. The first four books are intended for early readers or read-alongs, ages 5-6, 8-9, 10 and 12. The following 6 books follow Betsy and The Crowd through high school and beyond. (I won't subject you to a review of each of the 10 books.) These characters are among the most vivid and wonderful that I've ever read. The fact that the stories took place 100 years ago does not take a...more
A series I wish I had read as a little girl. I still have to get going on these, but my 8yo loves them =)
***
UPDATE :: 10/24/11 :: When I originally started this with my oldest a few years ago, she ended up taking it upon herself to finish, because I was taking too long to read it to her ~ LOL! Now, we are picking it up again as our first read-aloud of our first year of homeschooling. I am mainly reading it to my school-aged girls. If the twins sit in, then great, but at this time good fall pictu...more
***
UPDATE :: 10/24/11 :: When I originally started this with my oldest a few years ago, she ended up taking it upon herself to finish, because I was taking too long to read it to her ~ LOL! Now, we are picking it up again as our first read-aloud of our first year of homeschooling. I am mainly reading it to my school-aged girls. If the twins sit in, then great, but at this time good fall pictu...more
1 like · like · see review
Jul 08, 2011
Amy C.
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Amy by:
Melissa Wiley
Shelves:
read-alouds-to-kids
A beautiful, perfect book. I'm rereading it to the girls right now (the first time for the 5yo) and their giggles are delicious. I never read these books as a kid, and I'm so glad to be sharing them with my daughters.
2 likes · like · see review
I can't remember when I first starting reading this series but 2 years ago I bought them all again to read and own because as a child I had always checked them out from the library. I re-read them all and although the first stories are meant for child level readers I enjoyed a trip down memory lane with Betsy, Tacy, and Tib (a character who comes later on in the series). The reading level grows with the characters which is good for young readers. Utterly delightful stories of adventures and frie...more
This book changed my life and made me want to become a writer. I still remember discovering it on a rainy day. It had been given to my sister, who chucked it aside to watch TV. I was enchanted by page one. Unfortunately, the later books in the series were out of print. When my family moved to New Jersey, I was miserable until I found that the Library of The Chathams had the entire series. That fact alone made moving worthwhile. Nearly 30 years later, Hart Lovelace remains my favorite writer, EVE...more
This is the charming story of how Betsy and Tacy met and became best friends. The two girls have vivid imaginations and are able to play and make up stories about just about anything (an empty piano box is their house, they take a pretend ride to Milwaukee in the surrey in the horse barn, etc.) In that respect, they are like modern little girls. Many details of their day-to-day life are very different and might need explanations - they play with Betsy's mother's calling card case, they have afte...more
Buku untuk anak-anak perempuan. Senang membaca buku ini sambil membayangkan masa kecil bersama teman-teman yang masih lugu. Hiks. Kalau melihat anak-anak (perempuan) jaman sekarang suka heran. Haduuu masih kecil-kecil tapi udah pada jadi drama queen :((. Sekitar sepuluh tahun lalu, suka ada anak-anak kecil yang main ke rumah. Klo yang cowok-cowok prilakunya kubilang masih sewajarnya sebagai anak-anak. Tapi ada seorang anak perempuan yang klo di rumah hobinya mainin telpun. Cuma pura-pura nelpun....more
There were a few books I skipped reading in my local library, and this was one. Most of the books I skipped were boys' sports, or monster books, but also I tended to skip anything illustrated by Lois Lenski. Illustrations were too integral to the story for me, and if I didn't like the cover art or the frontispiece, I often wouldn't read a book until talked into it.
Yep, I missed some good books that way; I still haven't read the "Limberlost" books, which I remember taking down, looking at, and h...more
Yep, I missed some good books that way; I still haven't read the "Limberlost" books, which I remember taking down, looking at, and h...more
5 likes · like · see review
I learned very quickly that I have a great deal in common with Tacy. I'm extremely curious how her character will progress through the rest of the series! I have nothing at all in common with Betsy, so I imagine we would have been good friends. Two extremely bashful people aren't going to talk a whole lot, I'm guessing. My friends in elementary school and my best friend starting in 6th grade were all a great deal more talkative than me. That's really not saying much, though. Most of the people I...more
I will admit, I had never read these books. So I’m starting with the first one, and it was adorable. I love that the book is called “Betsy-Tacy” because the two girls were always together so when their families would call for them, they’d call “Betsy-Tacy!” I can actually hear that call in my head and it makes me smile. I also loved how Betsy basically just decided she was going to be friends with Tacy, and aside from their initial disastrous meeting, that’s exactly what happened. Children can b...more
My seven year old received Betsy-Tacy for her birthday from her grandmother, and absolutely adored it. The book follows the adventures of Betsy and Tacy, best friends in a quaint, turn of the century mid-western neighborhood. The delightful world the girls inhabit is framed by the markers of the big hill, the maple tree, the chocolate colored house, the red-brick school, and their own back doors. The story is a collection of anecdotes about the girls beginning school, attending parties, planning...more
Betsy-Tacy is the first book in the delightful series by Maud Hart Lovelace. Five-year-old Betsy longs for a best friend and finds one when Tacy moves in across the street. Together they have many adventures, including going on picnics, selling sand, playing with paper dolls, going "calling" on neighbors, climbing The Big Hill, and going to school for the first time.
The Betsy-Tacy books were partially autobiographical and Lovelace perfectly captures the innocence and magic of childhood. Betsy's...more
The Betsy-Tacy books were partially autobiographical and Lovelace perfectly captures the innocence and magic of childhood. Betsy's...more
Dec 22, 2011
Marie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Classics, Children's, Fans of Little House on the Prairie
Recommended to Marie by:
Heather Vogel Frederick
Shelves:
read-for-book-club
The cutest thing ever! Their adventures are so old-fashioned. There is really a kind of joy in learning how children used to play and think back then. I love this book way better than the The Complete Anne of Green Gables Boxed Setand the The Little House Collection Box Set. These books havea lot of promise. I'm reading the series as background reading for Home for the Holidaysbecause this is the series they read in the books. The author often formulates the charcter's troubles around similar ch...more
So I had heard about this in passing many times up in Minneapolis, I think there are things in the Children's Department named after Lovelace or something something? I was all psh old fuddy-duddy sentimental pap.
But, in my extreme and strangely exhibited homesickness, something prompted me to just pick up the first Betsy-Tacy book, and about one chapter in I became a crazy convert.
Betsy lives in Deep Valley Minnesota (it's really the Mankato of MHL's childhood!) and she's the only kid her age....more
But, in my extreme and strangely exhibited homesickness, something prompted me to just pick up the first Betsy-Tacy book, and about one chapter in I became a crazy convert.
Betsy lives in Deep Valley Minnesota (it's really the Mankato of MHL's childhood!) and she's the only kid her age....more
We recently listened to this sweet book in our car, while running around town. Only two CD's and perhaps ten chapters, the book flew by in just a few trips, and the kids were sad when there wasn't anymore.
Having read little as a young girl, since I was out climbing trees with our rabble of neighborhood kids (we lived on a very cool block!) I read very few of the oldies. This was a treat. It reminds me of the modern-day Penderwicks--just a neighborhood of normal kids, going about their fun; we fo...more
Having read little as a young girl, since I was out climbing trees with our rabble of neighborhood kids (we lived on a very cool block!) I read very few of the oldies. This was a treat. It reminds me of the modern-day Penderwicks--just a neighborhood of normal kids, going about their fun; we fo...more
This was a great chapter book to read aloud! The language is difficult for not quite four, but my daughter asked a lot of questions and we spent a lot of time recapping what happened. We talked about some of the unfamiliar concepts (horses and buggies, ladies with calling cards) and about some of the things that were familiar to her (playing dress up, pretending to drive, making up stories).
We did skip the chapter in which Tacy's baby sister dies. I think that would probably be fine for most ki...more
We did skip the chapter in which Tacy's baby sister dies. I think that would probably be fine for most ki...more
Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace is about a little girl named Betsy who lives on Hill Street at the turn of the century. There are no little girls Betsy's age on Hill Street, until one day a new family with a lot of children move in across the street from Betsy. In that family, there is a little girl Betsy's age. This is when Betsy meets her new best friend, Tacy.(Short for Anna Anastacia) Lovelace did an amazing job writing this book! I think the most interesting thing about it, is that it's ab...more
Oct 21, 2009
Colleen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
absolute-best-kids-books-i-have-ev,
kids-books
When I was in 4th grade, living in Chicago, I discovered the Betsy-Tacy books. I adored them. Summer came along, right in the middle of one of the books, and I had to return it to the school library. I carefully marked the spot where I had stopped, either by turning down a corner (gasp!) or tucking in a bookmark. But then we moved to Philadelphia during the summer! And I lost track of my precious Betsy-Tacy books! Fast forward to 1995 and an article in the Los Angeles Times (by now I'm a 33-year...more
i love this book now just as much as i did when i was little. i almost forgot just how funny/sweet/charming the betsy-tacy books are. in the first book they are five, and go through the full range of the five-year-old experience, including the first day of school, meeting new friends, a new sibling, and, for one, the death of a baby sister, along with all the whimsy of childhood imagination and play. the olden-day details are so rich and evocative, and though the horses and buggies and school-ho...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betsy-Tacy: Buying the books-standalone or collections | 15 | 25 | Jul 23, 2012 05:20am |
Maud Hart Lovelace was born on April 25, 1892, in Mankato, Minnesota. She was the middle of three children born to Thomas and Stella (Palmer) Hart. Her sister, Kathleen, was three years older, and her other sister, Helen, was six years younger. “That dear family" was the model for the fictional Ray family.
Maud’s birthplace was a small house on a hilly residential street several blocks above Mankat...more
More about Maud Hart Lovelace...
Maud’s birthplace was a small house on a hilly residential street several blocks above Mankat...more
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“This was Betsy and Tacy's private corner. Betsy's mother was a great believer in people having private corners, and the piano box was plainly meant to belong to Betsy and Tacy, for it fitted them so snugly.”
—
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